Heliotrope plant named ‘Nagano’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Heliotrope plant named ‘Nagano’, characterized by its compact and mounded plant habit; freely branching, dense and bushy growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; and dark purple-colored fragrant flowers.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Heliotrope arborescens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHeliotrope plant, botanically known as Heliotrope arborescens, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Nagano’.

The new Heliotrope is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Billerbeck, Germany. The new Heliotrope originatedfrom a cross made by the Inventor of the Heliotrope cultivar Atlanta,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,326, as the female, or seed, parentwith the Heliotrope cultivar Blue, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The cultivar Nagano was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in 1997 in acontrolled environment in Temming, Germany. The new Heliotrope wasselected on the basis of its dark purple-colored flowers.

Asexual reproduction of the new Heliotrope by cuttings in Temming,Germany, since 1997, has shown that the unique features of this newHeliotrope are stable and reproduced true to type in successivepropagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Heliotrope have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature and light and fertilizerrates, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of plants of the new Heliotrope anddifferentiate plants of the new Heliotrope from other commercialHeliotrope cultivars:

1. Compact and mounded plant habit.

2. Freely branching, dense and bushy growth habit.

3. Early and freely flowering habit.

4. Dark purple-colored flowers.

5. Fragrant flowers.

Compared to plants ofthe parent cultivars, Atlanta and Blue, plantsofthe new Heliotrope are more compact and have darker colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Heliotrope.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof four typical flowering plants of ‘Nagano’ grown in a 25.5-cmcontainer for 8 weeks.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view oftypical flowers and leaves of ‘Nagano’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Bonsall, Calif., under commercial practice during the summerand autumn in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse with day temperaturesranging from 18 to 35° C. and night temperatures ranging from 13 to 18°C. Three rooted cuttings were planted in 25.5-cm containers, pinchedonce and grown for about 8 weeks. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chartexcept where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Heliotrope arborescens cultivar Nagano.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Heliotrope arborescens cultivar Atlanta, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,326.

Male parent.—Heliotrope arborescens cultivar Blue, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By vegetative cuttings.

Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 21 days at 22 to 24° C.

Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 24 days at 22 to 24° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer or winter.—About 35 days at 22to 24° C.

Root description.—Fine and fibrous.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Plant description:

Plant form.—Compact and mounded plant habit. Freely basal branching;typically about 5 lateral branches. Removal of terminal apices enhancesdevelopment of axillary branching, dense and bushy plant habit.

Growth habit.—Lateral shoots upright, then outwardly spreading as plantsdevelop. Moderately vigorous.

Plant height.—About 18 cm.

Plant width.—About 22.5 cm.

Stem description.—Lateral branch length: About 13 cm. Lateral branchdiameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 1.9 cm. Texture: Very finepubescence. Color: 143C.

Foliage description.—Arrangement/quantity: Single leaves, alternate;about 6 to 10 leaves per lateral branch. Length: About 7 cm. Width:About 2.8 cm. Shape: Elongate, elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Acute.Margin: Entire. Texture, both surfaces: Fine pubescence; young leaves,velvety; fully expanded leaves, rough. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color:Young foliage, upper surface: 147B. Young foliage, lower surface: 144A.Mature foliage, upper surface: 147A; venation, 147B. Mature foliage,lower surface: 147B; venation, 144D. Petiole: Length: About 1.75 mm.Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: 144B.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.—Five-parted fused trumpet-shaped flowers arranged interminal scorpioid cymes; flowers open acropetally. Freely floweringwith more than 200 flowers per lateral branch. Flowers are held mostlyupright. Flowers persistent.

Natural flowering season.—In the garden, spring through autumn; undergreenhouse conditions, year-round. Flowers last about 2 to 3 days on theplant.

Fragrance.—Sweet, cherry and/or vanilla-like.

Flower size.—Cymes are about 6 cm in diameter; individual flowers areabout 6 mm in diameter and about 8 mm in height.

Flower bud.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Shape: Tubular.Color: 93C.

Petals.—Arrangement: Five fused at base, tubular; flaring into afive-lobed trumpet. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Apex:Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture: Velvety. Color: When opening, uppersurface: 93A. When opening, lower surface: 93B. Opened flower, uppersurface; 93C to 93D. Opened flower, lower surface: 93D. Throat: 1A.

Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five, fused at base. Shape: Elliptic.Calyx length: About 3 mm. Calyx diameter: About 2 mm. Apex: Acute.Margin: Entire. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Upper surface: 79B. Lowersurface: more gray-green than 79A.

Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Aspect: About 30°from vertical. Strength: Strong. Color: 147B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Five, adnate to baseof corolla tube. Anther shape: Elongate, oblong. Anther length: About 1mm. Anther color: 17B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 17B.Pistils: Quantity: One. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Stigma shape:Rounded. Stigma color: 147C. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color:147C. Ovary color: 147D.

Seed production.—Not observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new heliotrope have not beennoted to be resistant to known pathogens or pests common to Heliotrope.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Heliotrope plant named Nagano, as illustrated and described. 